State Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish MP has serious concerns following new data released by the Police Association.
The data shows that of the 900 new police allocated over the past 3 years, only 77 officers have gone to regional Victoria (around 8.6%.)
“Regional communities know they are missing out – whether it’s investment in our roads, communities or in police numbers”. “Our regional communities are crying out for more police but instead Daniel Andrews is directing new police to the city,” Ms McLeish said.
The data also shows that regional Victoria is becoming a drug driving hotspot. In 2018 of the 15 locations where drug drivers are most frequently caught – 9 were in regional Victoria. Daniel Andrews’ answer to the growing problem is to reduce roadside testing and cut funding.
Ms McLeish said: “Despite there now being more drivers dying with drugs in their system than dying with alcohol in their system, there are far fewer drug tests performed and the penalties for drug driving are significantly lower than for drink driving”.
According to MS McLeish “The figures come as Daniel Andrews is ripping $2.9 billion from the Transport Accident Commission and has cut roadside alcohol breath tests by 400,000.”
“For every week the Andrews Labor Government delays taking action, more lives on our roads will be placed at risk,” Ms McLeish said.
Ms McLeish said “rather than cutting funding and testing, the Liberal Nationals has a three point plan for road safety which would work towards reducing the number of deaths on our roads.”
“An elected Liberal Nationals Government will fund 1,000 extra drug tests each week, increase penalties for drug driving and focus speed camera site selection on reducing road trauma, not raising revenue,” McLeish concluded.
